Ladder accessories

ABSTRACT

A stabilizing leg for attachment to a ladder for use on uneven surfaces comprises a rigid leg member (3) having a central longitudinal slot (6) through which extend U-bolts (17) for clamping the leg member (3) to the rungs (15) of the ladder. The U-bolts can be slackened to permit the leg member (3) to slide vertically relative to the rungs between stored and extended positions, and also to slide along the rungs between the opposed stiles. The leg can be used on a ladder without specific adaptation of the ladder. There is also disclosed a hooking support (30) for attachment to the stiles at the upper end of the ladder for supporting the ladder from a ledge or spouting. The support comprises a number of adjacent hooking portions (34a) to (34d) spaced by a fraction of the ladder rung spacing.

The present invention relates to accessories for ladders, and moreparticularly accessories suitable for use with extension-type ladders.

The dangers of using ladders on uneven ground have long been recognized.A second problem arising when using ladders occurs when the ladder slipsagainst the wall or surface upon which it rests. The present inventionseeks to solve these safety problems.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided astabilizing leg for attachment to the rungs of a ladder, comprising arigid leg member, and clamping means for clamping the leg member to aplurality of rungs of the ladder such that the leg member projectstransversely to the rungs, the leg member being slidable longitudinallyrelative to said clamping means and being securable in a selectedposition by tightening the clamping means.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda support for attachment to the stile of ladder, said support, in use,extending along the uppermost end of the ladder stile and comprising aplurality of longitudinally-spaced hooking portions, respective hookingportions being joined by rectilinear sections which are upright atnormal ladder inclinations.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of exampleonly, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a stabilizing leg in accordancewith the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a support in accordance with theinvention; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view of a ladder, showing the stabilizingleg and support when attached to the ladder;

The stabilizing leg shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 comprises a rigid leg member3 consisting of two lengths of square tubing 5a, 5b lying parallel oneto the other and spaced to define a parallel-sided slot 6 extending thelength of the leg member 3. The lengths of square tubing 5a, 5b arefastened together adjacent their uppermost ends by a bolt 7, the lengths5a, 5b being separated by a spacer mounted on the shank of the bolt 7 toprovide the slot 6. A T-section foot piece 11 is centrally mountedbetween the lengths 5a, 5b at their lower ends by a bolt 13 whichextends between the lengths 5a, 5b. Spacers (not shown) mounted on thebolt 13 at either side of the T-section foot piece 11 maintain the footpiece 11 in a central position between the lengths 5a, 5b, whilepermitting pivotal movement of the foot piece 11 about the shank of thebolt 13. The foot piece 11 is cut from a length of T-sectioned stock sothat the base 11a of the foot piece is in the form of a plane plate. Thepivotal mounting of the foot piece 11 allows the plate 11a to sit firmlyon the ground at varying ladder inclinations.

As shown in FIG. 3, the rigid leg member 3 is clamped to the lower rungs15 of a ladder by a plurality of U-bolts 17 mounted in the slot 6, theleg member 3 being located behind the rungs 15 and parallel to thestiles 18. The U-bolts 17 are inserted through the slot 6 from the frontof the ladder so that the curved head portion of each U-bolt embraces adifferent one of the ladder rungs and the threaded sections of the boltextend to the rear through the slot 6. The threaded ends of the U-bolt17 project rearwardly to receive a fastening plate 21 to be secured bywing nuts 23. The wing nuts 23, when secured, clamp the rigid leg member3 against the rear of the rungs and the curved head portions of theU-bolts against the front of the rungs thereby preventing movement ofthe stabilizing leg relative to the ladder. Preferably, the rear surfaceof each length 5a, 5b on each side of the slot 6 is serrated as shown at25, with the inner surface of the plate 21 being similarly serrated, sothat the plate 21 and thus the U-bolt 17 can be positively clampedagainst the leg member 3 in order to prevent any risk of accidentalslippage. By loosening the wing nuts 23, sufficiently to free the plate21 from the surface of the leg member 3, the leg member 3 can be slidlongitudinally relative to the rungs between an inoperative, retracted,position in which the foot piece 11 is above the lower ends of thestiles and a lowered, extended, position in which the foot piece 11 actsto stabilize the ladder when the ladder is used on uneven ground, theleg member 3 being slid laterally along the rungs to lie adjacent one orother of the stiles in its operative position. In its inoperativeposition, the leg member 3 can be located centrally between the stilesso as not to interfere with operation of an extension ladder; also theleg member 3 being located behind the main ladder, does not impedeaccess to the ladder. The stabilizing leg can thus remain permanentlyattached to the ladder, to be used as required.

The stabilizing leg can easily be mounted onto the ladder without anymodifications being made to the ladder. The stabilizing leg is made fromstandard components and thus can be manufactured inexpensively. TheU-bolts are able to slide individually along the central slot 6 of theleg member thus enabling the spacing between the U-bolts along the legto be varied so that the same stabilizing leg can be used with mostladders currently available.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a support 30 which is fabricated from metal strip andis attached to the uppermost end of the stile of a ladder. Usually, thesupport is mounted on an extension ladder, with the ladder carrying twosuch supports, one on each of its stiles. The support 30 comprises aplurality of longitudinally-spaced hooking portions 34a to 34d, withrespective hooking portions being joined by rectilinear sections 36a,36b, 36c. The spacing between the adjacent hooking portions 34a to 34dis only a fraction (typically 1/5) of the rung spacing to versility ofoperation, as will be described subsequently. The rectilinear sections36a to 36c are substantially vertical when the ladder is at normalinclinations. The support 30 when viewed from the side has the profileof a rounded-end saw tooth. The low points of this profile 38a to 38crest against the ladder stiles when the support is secured to theladder. The support 30 is secured to the uppermost end of the stile ofthe ladder by bolts 50 a, 50b which pass through respective end portions40a, 40b of the support. The portions 40a, 40b are of a flat form so asto bear against the ladder stile.

In use the support 30 can engage a ledge 40 and will prevent the ladderfrom falling backwards or sideways in most situations, the forces actingbetween the support and the ledge to resist movement of the ladderincreasing with increasing load on the ladder. On spouting one of thehooking portions will hook over the edge of the spouting and theadjacent lower rectilinear section will lie substantially flat againstthe spouting wall. This prevents damage to the spouting as the loadbearing area is greatly increased.

The incorporation of the several hooking portions in the support spacedby only a fraction of the rung spacing enables the ladder to be extendedand placed so that one of the hooking sections will engage a ledge orspouting without having to vary the inclination of the ladder to anygreat extent.

The support described can be simply fabricated from aluminium strip.

The embodiments have been described by way of example and modificationsare possible within the scope of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A stabilizing leg for attachment to the rungs of a ladderfor stabilizing the ladder on uneven ground, comprising a rigid legmember and clamping means for clamping the leg member to a plurality ofrungs of the ladder such that the leg member projects transversely tothe rungs, the leg member being slidable transversely between opposedoperative positions adjacent the respective stiles of the ladder and theleg member being slidable longitudinally relative to said clamping meansto provide an extended support in a position adjacent a selected one ofthe stiles, the leg member being securable in its extended supportposition by tightening the clamping means, wherein the leg membercomprises a longitudinal slot which extends between opposite sides ofthe leg member and the clamping means comprises a plurality of separateclamps each slidable longitudinally of the member, each said clampcomprising a U-bolt located within the slot to provide a head portionwhich projects from one side of the leg member whereby the head portionis operative to engage a respective rung and clamp the rung against theadjacent side of the leg member, and threaded tail portions of theU-bolt extend on the opposite side of the leg member and carry clampingnuts.
 2. A stabilizing leg according to claim 1, wherein each clampfurther comprises a clamping plate interposed between the nuts and theadjacent side of the leg member, the plate and the adjacent side of theleg member being serrated to provide positive locking of the platerelative to the leg member.
 3. A stabilizing leg according to claim 1,wherein the leg member comprises parallel lengths of rigid elongatematerial rigidly connected with a space between the lengths to definethe longitudinal slot.
 4. A stabilizing leg according to claim 2,further comprising a foot member pivotally mounted at the lower end ofthe leg member.
 5. A ladder comprising rungs and stiles, a stabilizingleg according to claim 1 mounted on the rungs at the lower end of theladder, and a support attached at the upper end of the ladder to one ofsaid stiles, said support comprising a plurality of longitudinallyspaced hooking portions, respective hooking portions being joined byrectilinear sections which are upright at normal ladder inclinations. 6.A ladder according to claim 5, wherein the adjacent hooking portions ofthe support are spaced longitudinally by a distance substantially lessthan the spacing between adjacent rungs of the ladder.